Bushing for oscillating free pivot

A bushing for use in an automotive vehicle seat assembly, the bushing comprising:

• an outer ring including a passageway extending axially therethrough and a plurality of outer pins projecting radially inward into the passageway;
• an inner ring including a hole extending axially therethrough and a plurality of inner pins projecting radially outward from the inner ring, wherein the inner ring is spaced within the passageway in the outer ring;
• and
• a plurality of compression springs having opposing first and second end openings, each of the plurality of outer pins is at least partially inserted into the first end opening of a respective one of the plurality of compression springs, and each of the plurality of inner pins is at least partially inserted into the second end opening of the respective one of the plurality of compression springs such that the inner ring is supported within the passageway of the outer ring by the plurality of compression springs.

A seat assembly for use in an automotive vehicle, the seat assembly comprising:

• a seat cushion including a seat bracket;
• a seat back including a side bracket;
• a bushing including an outer ring fixedly coupled to one of the seat bracket or the side bracket, an inner ring, and a plurality of compression springs, the outer ring having a passageway extending axially therethrough and a plurality of outer pins projecting radially inward into the passageway, the inner ring having a hole extending axially therethrough and a plurality of inner pins projecting radially outward from the inner ring, and each of the plurality of compression springs including opposing first and second end openings, wherein the inner ring is positioned within the passageway in the outer ring, each of the plurality of outer pins is at least partially inserted into the first end opening of a respective one of the plurality of compression springs, and each of the plurality of inner pins is at least partially inserted into the second end opening of the respective one of the plurality of compression springs such that the inner ring is supported with the passageway in the outer ring by the plurality of compression springs, inner pins, and outer pins;
• and
• a free pivot pivotally coupling the side bracket to the seat bracket, the free pivot comprising a shaft extending axially through the hole in the inner ring.